If you find yourself more comfortable interacting with a bird as opposed to a person, you may want to read this. Recently The New York Times ran a story in their “Modern Love” blog by Victor Lodato who shares the story of his recent losses and a theory of why so many of us are overwhelmed these days with feelings of anxiety, hopelessness and isolation. Lodato speaks openly about his own traumatic losses that mounted to the point where he had trouble breathing and didn’t know who he was anymore. Here’s some snippets from this wonderful article.
“I realize that since the losses of the pandemic, I’ve been thinking too much about myself. Grief, anxiety and meditation exercises has put me at the center of the story when what I want is to get out of myself. Perhaps what’s making me sick is not the lack of love I have received but the love I have ceased to give. Maybe I no longer know who I am is because my sense of self has always been defined by the giving of love.
“One of my instructors suggested I try a meditation called “Metta” – a which is all about being able to express loving kindness. He told me that when doing this exercise you don’t think about yourself at all; you direct all your energy towards others – even strangers. Metta is now part of my daily practice. While shopping or doing errands I choose someone – a stranger who looks as if they are struggling. Then later I close my eyes and picture my stranger and say these words out loud:
“May you be healthy and free of pain.”
“May your life be filled with happiness.”
“May you find peace.”
“May you always be treated kindly.”
Read more here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/01/style/modern-love-hey-stranger-heres-my-heart.html